Pearl Took
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
OK
I'm prejudiced, I'll admit it
You saved the best for last.
I laughed out loud.
I chuckled.
I sniggered at things I wasn't quite sure I was supposed to laugh at (but were very funny)
And I got all teary at the end.
TOO GOOD!! BRAVO! BRAVO!! BRAVISSIMO!!! APPLAUSE!! CHEERS!!
Now, take your bows and go write some more of your wonderful stories ;-)
Author's reply
Hey you can laugh out loud at anything in this story that strikes you as funny! You know I love it when folks laugh at these. This one was all meant to be pure fun and games from start to finish so it's good to hear that it was.
Thank you for all of the lovely reviews and the applause and cheers and the bravo(s). I now bow to you!
PS Drop me an email and let me know what MEWD means if you have time. I have no idea and I haven't been able to puzzle it out. Someone else asked me to translate it and I had to admit that I was completely cluess on that one! LOL
shirebound
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
"We all take turns watching after him "
“I wouldn’t be afraid to go but everyone would miss me too much "
I was as worried as Merry, GW! You rival Frodo and Pippin in your wonderful imagination. Thank you for taking us along on these hobbity adventures.
Author's reply
I thank you for coming along on these adventures! I love the company and the hobbits are all so fond of you! I liked Merry getting a surprise where Pippin was concerned because Merry nearly always knows what's going on with Pippin. A surprise or two keeps it interesting! That Frodo is a very good influence on everyone's reading and acting isn't he? : )
Larner
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
Now, that is the most entertaining reason to run away yet! I ran away several times myself at age seven, usually to the empty lot full of stands of blackberry vines and crabapple trees across the street, often with my little suitcase full of doll clothes and my favorite dolls. I KNEW someone would take a nice little girl in, but wasn't certain about whether or not they knew how to take care of my dolls, you see. Heh!
But this has been a MOST lovely series, and all of the far too likely!
Author's reply
I packed several times too and never went far at all. I didn't figure that Pippin, the darling of his family, would have much reason to leave at six but I thought he'd be attracted to the adventure of it in a very Tookish way. LOL It sounds as if you could have gone to the barn for the day with him, brought your dolls and had snacks with Errol!
Thank you for reading and I am very glad you enjoyed these!
harrowcat
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
Well, at the beginning you had me as convinced as Merry. *blushes* A great game for everyone!
PIppinfan1988
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Ah...a little bit of AC, a nice thunderstorm...I'm back! Actually, I couldn't stay away for long, lol! These wee stories are excellent!
I do love a good story that has Merry and his beloved auntie interacting. I really enjoyed the part of Merry wanting to go rescue Frodo from Bilbo, saying he'd had Frodo long enough! That was sweet. I do love your "little lad" tales -- I think you have them nailed, lol. I wonder why???? ;-)
Now I'm *really* looking forward to little Pippin's story...
PF
Author's reply
It was funny because I dont' use Eglantine very often and so she surprised me by turning up in this story. I usually write Merry's parents and Bilbo when I need adults but this has been a strange group of little stories. You'll see what I mean when you read Pippin's. I actually used Paladin and you know I never do that. LOL
Glad the AC is working and I'm totally jealous of your thunderstorm. We need rain so badly here and aren't getting it. Stay cool!
PIppinfan1988
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
The thought of young Frodo in his Highday best to give his best impression on the road is absolutely adorable. And with a mind to go to the Misty Mountains, no less! I loved your description of Frodo using various traits of his Baggins, Brandybuck, and Took roots.
What a wonderful tale -- and told most excellently, I might add! Right off the bat I had Frodo's voice in my head and the whole beautiful scene in my mind's eye in vivid detail. *Very* well done, my friend! :-)
PF
It's hotter than blazes in this room, so I'll wait to cool down and savour the flavour for Merry's tale. :-)
Author's reply
I am so glad you enjoyed my take on Frodo at age nine. I haven't written young Frodo too often because I am usually in Merry and Pippin land. LOL I do think he must have been a very clever, very intelligent young child with a great imagination. Probably why Bilbo loved him so much!
Do not give yourself heat stroke reading these. Save them for the winter months if need be. LOL
cookiefleck
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
Loved it, right in character as most of us imagine him at that age. I can never get enough "Sam," so please continue to write him!
Author's reply
Wow, thank you so much. I am always nervous about writing Sam and whenever anyone thinks that I've done a good job with him it really makes my day. Thank you so much and I will try my best to write more things with Sam. Lately he has been on my mind.
Golden
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Just love that scene! Especially when Merry says: You don’t have to worry and you don’t have to tell anyone or try to stop me or anything.”
Of course no one would get suspicious that he is doing something forbidden with that comment. ;)
Oh and I as well would love to read the letter that Merry send to Frodo. Maybe you should write it out! :D
Author's reply
Yes, Merry gave himself away with that line didn't he? LOL
I might just have to write that letter at some point in time. I don't know if I can do it justice but I might give it a try! Thank you for the lovely review!
Golden
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
What a beautiful story! Love every bit of it!
Author's reply
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed this one. : )
Golden
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
Very nice! Sam really was a good child wasn´t he? So caring and responsible already at that young age.
Author's reply
Something about Sam just makes me think that he was always responsible. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the review!
Larner
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Oh, I cracked up so much on this one. So this is where my version of Pippin got into the habit of stealing a pony and riding to Buckland or Hobbiton at odd times from! Oh, and love the idea of Merry instructing Frodo on childbirth!
Dear, dear Merry!
And I love Lanti lying for Merry. An aunt in a million!
Author's reply
I hadn't thought of that but it would fit. Pippin would naturally hear this story and then follow Merry's example and steal a pony if he needed one. LOL This connects very well. I have this whole thing being blamed on Frodo in the beginning by Eglantine's friend, Lavender who says something about Merry following in Frodo's footsteps so I guess Pippin came by it honestly.
Merry is the determined sort and I just know that he didn't take Frodo leaving without some sort of a fight and as to his new knowledge on childbirth, any lad would want to share that with the cousin who had taught him everything else he knew, wouldn't he? : )
Thanks for reading and I'm glad you got a laugh out of this one.
harrowcat
· 27 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
I am quite surprised that Frodo, or at least Bilbo, whould know that the most unlikely portion of the tale is the most likely to be true! *G*
And I loved the advice on how to deal with Frodo and look after him. That stands Merry in very good stead years later.
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo and Bilbo did miss out a bit on this one didn't they? LOL I guess Eglantine had them both fooled and that would be very rare indeed.
I do think that Merry got the best end of the deal with the advice and someone to help him put the pony back in the barn. Thanks for reading!
Dreamflower
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Oh, I'm grinning all over my face, GW! This is my favorite one yet!
I love the interaction between Eglantine and Merry--she's going to do much better with her lad than she thinks she will. (And isn't she going to be surprised when it's *not* a lass, LOL!)
This story was just full of little gems:
“I’m going to go and get Frodo,” Merry said with determination. “Bilbo has had him long enough and I’m getting him back. No one else will go and get him and so I have to do it.”
Yes, indeed. If Merry thinks it needs doing, then he's the one who'll do it--even if he is only eight!
Merry grinned. “He sends me lots of things. He mailed me a box of rocks this week. He said so in his last letter. I should be getting it soon.”
“Rocks?”
“I collect them and Frodo knows the kind I like so he says that he’s found me a whole bunch of them and that he mailed them,” Merry said brightly.
Eglantine felt sorry for the poor post hobbit that would have to carry a box of rocks out to Brandy Hall but she said, “That’s a very nice thing for him to do.”
*snerk* Poor post-hobbit, yessirree!
“But it is still a long way and you will be gone for a while. I’m certain that you will have to talk Bilbo into letting you bring Frodo home with you and that might take several days,” Eglantine said. “Bilbo is quite the talker. He’s part Took you know.”
Merry nodded. “I am too but you can’t tell it.”
Eglantine smiled and wondered how many Brandybucks would be adventurous enough to get on a pony at eight and ride to Hobbiton. Merry was more Took than he let on she suspected.
And if any non-Took could recognize Tookishness, it would have to be Eglantine!
Later that week Frodo get a very long, very entertaining letter from Merry all about stealing a plow pony from the barn and about how much trouble it is to have a baby. Frodo wasn’t certain why Merry was so interested in babies and he didn't believe that Merry had jumped several fences and ridden across the Brandywine Bridge on the pony but the letter was very entertaining all the same. He was also skeptical when Merry wrote about Eglantine Took having lied for him in his efforts to cover up the adventure. This didn't sound at all like the very prim Eglantine Banks Took that Frodo knew and he was certain that Merry was making that protion of his tale up. He and Bilbo particularly enjoyed the part of the letter that contained Merry's views on childbirth.
I certainly would love to read *that* letter! LOL!
I loved this so much!
Author's reply
I just love to write Merry for some reason. Even though Pip will always be my favorite hobbit I tend to have fun with Merry. LOL I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I had this vision of Merry at eight up on a pony that was too big for him and I just couldn't get it out of my head. I suspect that by following Frodo around Merry did lots of things too quickly but I am guessing that he also did them well.
I don't write Eglantine often but I did think she might be in need of experience in dealing with a lad before hers came along and I also needed someone to try and reason with Merry rather than pulling him off the pony and taking him home. LOL
Gotta have a dialogue you know.
I suspect that Frodo and Bilbo enjoyed the letter repeatedly.
Thank you for the lovely review. It is always nice to know what parts of the story someone enjoyed! Tomorrow it will be Pippin's turn to leave home.
Pearl Took
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
I wish you had been my mom - or, well - at least I wish my mom had been like the hobbit moms you write. (I've the feeling you are a good deal like them)
These are so charming!! I can hardly wait to read Pippin's :-)
MEWD, GW!!!!!
Author's reply
I've never raised a little lass. Were you a good child? LOL
Unlike Eglantine I only know about raising a boy child but I'd have been willing to give it a try. Thank you for the lovely compliment by the way. I do hope I am a good mom. It's been my favorite job.
Pippin's is completed and ready to post. It will go up sometime tomorrow whenever I get home from work. LOL I do hope you like it.
shirebound
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
You don’t have to worry and you don’t have to tell anyone or try to stop me or anything.”
*giggles* I just can't get enough of these, GW. Merry is so dear, and Eglantine is SO patient. Much more patient than I am! I love reading about our "special cousins".
Author's reply
Thank you. Merry was determined to get his special cousin back from Bilbo and I wouldn't want to try to talk a determined Merry out of anything. LOL
Andrea
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
Just wonderful!
Gandalf had to think quickly to find a way to delay Frodo's journey to Dale. And I think the Old Wizard will give Bilbo an earful!
I agree with the others: little Frodo is SO cute :)
Thank you very much!
Author's reply
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. Gandalf did need to be quick and luckily Frodo's map was a good delaying tactic because I do think Frodo's mind was set on going at that moment.
Bilbo will get an earful won't he? LOL
Thanks for reading!
Agape4Gondor
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 1: Butterflies I have known
This was absolutely delightful - and putting Sarador as the 'focal' point, the tie that binds everything together, worked really well. Though the butterflies themselves did very well too. LOL
Great tale - !
Author's reply
Thank you. I am very fond of Saradoc for some strange reason and he makes his way into a lot of my hobbit stories. I wanted one person to see each of the four in this situation to tie it all together and I am very glad that I accomplished that. Thank you for noticing and for reviewing!
Dreamflower
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
This is adorable! I love how sneaky Gandalf is in putting an end to Frodo's travel plans without actually discouraging him! *grin*
And the last sentence was so sad.
Author's reply
A wizard can be very tricksy if he needs to be. LOL With Frodo I don't think a simple 'no' would have worked. He would have been far too intelligent a child for that.
The last sentence was one of those after-thoughts that I didn't realize was part of the story. I was going for a light-hearted look at running away and something less serious than Sam's had been but in the end that line just needed to be there.
Thanks for reading!
Elemmírë
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
*sighs dreamily*
Little Frodo is just toooooo CUTE! I especially liked his map and how he already ate all of his biscuits before he even left on his adventure :D
He really is quite the clever little lad, isn't he. Good thing for him that Gandalf came along "precisely when he meant to" and employed his own method of delaying tactics. I too would really enjoy being a fly on the walls of Bag End for Gandalf's well-meaning disscussion with Bilbo.
Poor Primula! Her reaction provided just a hint of suspense and foreboding at the end of an otherwise very plesant tale. It's even more bittersweet because she will never be there for her son when he is one day forced to leave the Shire on his quest.
Well done, GW!
~Elemmírë~
Author's reply
Frodo must have been one of those adorable, intelligent children who knew more than was good for them. I do think he would have got more information out of Bilbo's stories than other children don't you?
I thought this might be a good time for Gandalf to get to know Frodo a bit. Bilbo is in for a stern talking to I think. I suspect that Gandalf will have to let Bilbo know exactly how much of his story-telling Frodo has in mind to make use of. LOL I may have to write that at some point.
It is always sad to think of what Frodo's parents missed. I really had intended for the entire story to be light-hearted but for some reason that part just insisted on being written.
Thanks for reviewing!
Pearl Took
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
“He might have at that. Frodo isn’t one to lie even if it makes a better tale,” Drogo said. “But traveling out of the Shire! Not our Frodo.”
For some reason this gave Primula a chill and it was some time before she felt warm again."
Gave me a chill too!
Another lovely story, GW! Frodo had thought it all out quite well, though at that age I think he would have very quickly missed hearth and home. ;-)
Author's reply
Primula knew more than she realized didn't she? I thought it might be one of those times when a mother might just get a feeling about trouble yet to come. I'm quite certain you know the feeling. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I don't think Frodo would have got far even if a certain Wizard hadn't turned up.
shirebound
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
“But I must get there before dark and I mustn’t bring a great many Dwarves with me all at once. If I do have Dwarves with me and I might meet a few along the way, then I must bring then in a few at a time,” Frodo said.
Gandalf chuckled. The child knew Bilbo’s tale very well indeed.
This is so adorable, GW! What a wonderful encounter. I love how Frodo absorbed Bilbo's tales, and how Gandalf learns something new about hobbits each time he visits. No wonder he starts keeping an eye on "the best hobbit in the Shire".
Author's reply
Gandalf was impressed indeed and I do think someone should keep an eye on him at this point. It looks as if young Frodo is ready for an adventure or two. Maybe Bilbo will step in next time with something a bit more tame like a camping trip. Someone has to keep an eye on the best hobbit in the Shire. : ) Thank you for the lovely review!
harrowcat
· 26 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
Sounds like a 'chance meeting' might have averted a problem for a week at the very least. And I would love to overhear the conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf!
Author's reply
Yes, Gandalf came along at just the right time. I wonder who will keep Frodo from taking off once his travel trousers are clean again? LOL That will be quite some conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf. I may have to write that and put it somewhere. Thank you for reading!
Larner
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
I was going to bicycle 2400 miles to see relatives back east. I never considered what I'd do once I got into the mountain passes, and between the west coast and my relatives' place I'd have gone through the Cascades, the Blue Mountains, and the Rockies, not to mention all kinds of other terrain a ten-year-old on a bike would never make it through.
Fortunately I started trying to bike to a lake I thought of as close to home. I made it about ten miles before I realized I'd never get home again if I didn't turn around soon. Mom was most annoyed, and probably frightened as well.
Love the planned trip and the preparations and packing, and can see he didn't actually start with that much more when he really DID leave the Shire.
And I certainly empathize with Primula!
Author's reply
Your planned bike trip sounds very exciting. I am guessing that at ten it also seemed very easy to do. Personally at ten or so I had big plans to walk about 65 miles or so to a 'near-by' town to visit a friend. LOL I never actually began the trip but I had fun planning it. Thanks for reading! I do look forward to hearing from you, especially when I attempt to write Frodo. Night!
Pearl Took
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
AW! This is so touching!
That isn't a one of us who are parents that haven't had something like this happen. Bless the Gaffer's heart!
I'm so glad Sammy stayed home :-)
Author's reply
Dear Sam could never leave his family unless of course, Mr. Frodo needed him. : ) Glad you enjoyed it and it really is something that parents deal with from time to time. As you know, little ones will listen when you don't think they are! LOL Thanks for reading!
PIppinfan1988
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
*sniff* Wow...I almost had to reach for a kleenex! sigh. That was very beautiful, very moving. The Gaffer could teach a few things to one particular set of parents that I know.
Now, I'm anticipating Part 2...maybe I'll hang on to this box of hankies for a bit.
Author's reply
I like to think that the Gaffer was a real soft touch for the most part. He was one of those gruff on the outside but a really sweetie on the inside kinda fathers. That's what I think anyway. Glad you enjoyed it. I don't think you'll need the kleenex on the next one but I could be wrong! I've been wrong before but don't tell anyone, ok? Out secret.